Many people—especially long-suffering Browns fans—will read these phrases and automatically think "eh those loser Browns LOL etc etc" but I look at it differently: those phrases are memorable precisely because they describe pivotal plays or drives that kept otherwise excellent Browns teams from advancing to the Super Bowl, especially the latter two against the Broncos in the AFC Championship game.

How many such crucial opportunities have the Lions had since 1957? I can only think of one that even warrants consideration: the 1983 Divisional playoff game against the 49ers, in which allegedly automatic Eddie Murray missed two FGs in the fourth quarter, the second of which would have given the Lions the victory with 5 seconds left.

The other primary culprit in that Lions loss was perennial SEC fellator Gary Danielson, who threw FIVE interceptions that day against San Francisco.

"The Detroit Lions of 1967 were expecting big things. They had a new head coach, former Lions’ great Joe Schmidt. The team was blessed with two great quarterbacks in Karl Sweetan and Milt Plum. They also had the newly arrived talents of rookie Mel Farr from UCLA, who would lead the team for years to come." (from the link in the OP)

I can understand high expectations, having the great Joe Schmidt as new Head Coach and none other than Mel Farr Superstar running the ball, but c'mon, "blessed with two great quarterbacks in Karl Sweetan and Milt Plum"?

In the lives of the large majority of current Detroit sports fans, the Tigers have been to the World Series four times, and have won two of them. The Lions have been to the NFL championship only in the active memories of those in their late sixties or older.

who would go on to kick for the lions. greg landry would come the next year (i think) and replace those two 'great' quaterbacks the lions had. in those days guys didn't train year-round and an august football game was no place to play a mile high in denver if you were just starting to get into shape.